Sundre town councillors have voted to put the operation of the multi-stakeholder economic development committee on hold.
During last week's regularly scheduled town council meeting councillors passed a motion to “suspend the committee for one year while council reviews the committee's role and considers the most effective use of that resource.”
Two weeks ago the governance committee had discussed the future of the town's economic development committee and further discussions are planned.
At that time, administration said in a note to council: “The relationship between the committee and council, and between the committee and economic development staff, is not clear nor are the reporting lines.
“With council taking a more assertive role, more direct reporting from staff to council will keep council more informed of ongoing activities, more engaged in that process, and better prepared to set new direction as and when necessary.”
The Town of Sundre-mandated economic development committee, which was made up of 10 members, including members of the public at large, was formed in 2005 to “assist in developing an environment for planning economic development” in town.
The current terms of reference for the committee are outdated and formulated prior to the existence of full-time economic development function within town operations, said CAO Dean Pickering.
Meanwhile, councillors have also passed a motion suspending the operation of the Sustainable Sundre Committee (SSC) for one year while council “reassesses the role of the committee.”
The SSC was formed in 2006 when provincial municipal grant funding mandated all communities establish sustainability plans.
The SSC subsequently established such a plan for the municipality.
The plan calls for economic development and town operations to be conducted in an environmentally sustainable way.
“Over the past year or two, public participation in the committee has dwindled. With the resignation of the chair earlier this year, the committee currently has only three members, one a member of the public, one staff member and one town councillor,” CAO Pickering said in a note to council.
“Committee members agreed (to the suspension), stating that this does not seem to be a priority in the community at this time, and felt that a hiatus of some kind was in order, either until some specific project came up for them to work on or until a greater level of interest is demonstrated from the public.”
The committee member did “express the desire to maintain a monitoring role with council, to ensure that the plans continue to be implemented within municipal departments and that sustainability continues to be considered in all decisions.”
The town remains committed to the municipal sustainability plan and its responsibility within that and will continue with its implementation, he said.
Mayor Annette Clews said, “The work they (committee) have done has been very important.”
Should the committee be reinstated, that could be done at the 2013 organization meeting, council heard.
In other council news, councillors have passed a motion appointing Pricewaterhouse Coopers as the town's auditor.
The town will pay $41,448, $43,385, and $45,127 for audit services in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Wanda Watson-Neufeld, the town's director of corporate services, said Pricewaterhouse Coopers will “provide an experienced team with a strong background in the municipal sector. One of the (company's) main areas of focus is municipal government audits and they have a number of partners and senior accountants that have gained a thorough knowledge of the municipal government act and public sector accounting board standards.”
The company also provides audit services for the City of Airdrie, the Town of Cochrane and Rocky View County.
